This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is for General Scientific Infrastructure Support for Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) and University Research Reactor Upgrades (RU) Infrastructure Support for the U.S. nuclear research community.
DOE is seeking applications under the Infrastructure FOA in the following areas:
- University Research Reactor Upgrades Infrastructure Support
- General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI) Support for Universities
Number of applications allowed:
- One application per reactor under the University Research Reactor Upgrade Infrastructure Support; and
- One application can be submitted under GSI.
For example: If a university operates 2 research reactors, they may submit a total of three applications under this FOA. One for each reactor for a total of 2 under the University Research Reactor Upgrades Infrastructure Support area and 1 under the GSI area for a total of 3 applications.
Background and Objectives
The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental, and economic needs. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:
- Keep existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating.
- Deploy new nuclear reactors.
- Secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle.
- Expand international nuclear energy cooperation.
Collectively, all NE-sponsored activities support the Department’s priorities to combat the climate crisis, create clean energy jobs with the free and fair chance to join a union and bargain collectively, and promote equity and environmental justice by delivering innovative clean energy technologies for nuclear energy systems.
The development of nuclear energy-related infrastructure and basic capabilities in the research community is necessary to promote Research and Development (R&D) that supports nuclear science and engineering (NS&E), NE’s mission, and the nation’s nuclear energy challenges. Accordingly, the Department of Energy (DOE) intends to facilitate the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policymakers through graduate and undergraduate study, two-year programs, and R&D that is relevant to the Department and the U.S. nuclear energy industry in general.
Within the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), the specific goals of this Infrastructure FOA are:
- To support, maintain, or enhance the institution’s capacities to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies;
- Build the institution’s research or education capabilities; and
- Enhance the institution’s capabilities to perform R&D that is relevant to NE’s mission.
The following targeted objectives within this Infrastructure FOA will aide in achieving these goals:
(1) Upgrade and improve U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors. Upgrades for a research reactor that include the acquisition of equipment and/or instrumentation for activities related to safety, performance, control, or operational reliability. For example, equipment acquired for security/safety enhancements required by the federal/state/local regulatory agencies are permitted.
(2) Obtain equipment and instrumentation that significantly improves or expands the research, instruction, training capabilities, and/or operating capabilities related to NE program missions (e.g., utilization or handling of radiological or radioactive materials). For example, this may include radiation detection and measurement equipment.
(3) Contribute to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure.
Requests should focus on individual, discrete, definable items, or capabilities. An applicant must demonstrate the educational or R&D connection between requested pieces of equipment to support the NE mission. Applications made of several uncorrelated equipment requests are not of interest. A request should not duplicate existing capabilities.
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_DE-FOA-0003312_2025) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Letter (1 page, pdf):
- Descriptive title of proposed activity
- PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- Names of other key personnel
- Participating institution(s)
- Number and title of this funding opportunity
2. Project Description (no more than two pages, pdf) and identify the project scope that addresses the key criteria in the FOA, principal investigators, collaborators, and partner organizations.
3. 3-page CV's of Investigators
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.